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27 the utmost regret, therefore, that I find myself compelled by personal affairs to decline your offer.

From our conversations, I have no doubt that you will be very successful. The most important idea in your plan, it seems to me, and one which will mark a new epoch in Arctic exploration, is the idea of a permanent camp at the entrance of Jones Sound, where it will be in constant communication with the outer world through the whalers. The wonder is that so simple and inexpensive a measure was not thought of long ago. Had it been adopted, say 50 years ago, it is entirely probable that Arctic history since then would have remained unclouded by a single disaster. It seems to me that your plan ought to meet with hearty support on the part of the whaling interests, since they will thereby gain a refuge station, such as the American whalers have at Point Barrow.

TELEGRAM FROM

(of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden, Circumnavigator of Asia.)

Is place still open for Swede? We contributing thousand dollars. Telegraph. NORDENSKIÖLD.

In reply, the command of the expedition was offered to Prof. Nordenskiöld.